Running board construction



Aug. 25, 1931. J. PUNKE RUNNTlNGYBOARD CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 10, 19282 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENITOR 55 5 Ja/mJPan/fe ATTORNEY5 Aug. 25 1931. J..1. PUNKE 1,820,324

RuNN ING BOARD CQNSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 10-, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Jizw J. Paalfe a mama 0 n l l I I u w ATTORNEYS Patented-1 Aug.25, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE JOHN J. PUNKE, OF'DETROIT, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR TO EUPP MOTOR CAR CORPORA- TION, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A.CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA RUNNING BOARD CONSTRUCTION" Application filedDecember 10, 1928. Serial No. 324,990.

This invention relates generally to vehicles and has particularreference to running board assemblies therefor. 7

One of the primary objects of this invention is to simplify, render moreeflicient and improve generally structures of the above character, byproviding a non-metallic covering so designed as to completely concealthe running board and dust shield of the vehicle.

A further advantageous feature of the present invention which attributesmaterially to the commercial value and acceptability of the constructionis the provision of a non-metallic covering for the running board anddust shield which in additionto completely concealing the latter membersfunctions to conceal the joints between the front fenders and runningboard. This arrangement not only improves the general appearance of .thevehicle but also precludes any possibility of dirt and water collectingin the joints between the fenders and running boards and rusting theseparts.

Other objects and novel details of construction of this invention willbe made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure1 is a top plan view of a running board constructed in accordance withmy invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

.Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing a slightly modified formof conlongitudinal edge in a depending flange t5 having a return bentend portion 16 and at its inner longitudinal edge in an upwardlyextending flange '17 forming a dust shield or kick plate. The dustshield in turn is provided with an inwardly extending flange 18projecting beneath the lower edge por tions 19 of the body and spacedtherefrom.

The forward end of the running board;

ing to a lateral flange 24 formed upon the 3 rear fender 25'.

While any suitable means may be employed for securing the running boardto the brackets 13, the' present invention accomplishes this result byproviding a air of laterally spaced longitudinally extent ing channelshaped rails 26 having lateral flanges 27 welded or otherwise suitablyse-. cured to the running board. The base portions 28 of the channelshaped rails 26 are suitably secured to the brackets 13 as at 29.

In order to provide an eflicient construction and at the same timeimprove the general appearance of the body, the running board 14; anddust shield 17 arecovered by a suitable mat 30. This mat is preferablyformed of a non-metallic material such, for

example, as rubber or a rubber composition and is so designed as tocompletely conceal not only the running board 14 but also the dustshield. As shown, the mat 30 preferably conforms in shape to theparticular contour of the running board and dust shield and. isvulcanized to these parts. The

inner longitudinal edge of the mat 30, as

shown particularly in Figure 3, projects into the space formed betweentho'inwardly extending flange 18 and the lower edge of the body. Theforward end of the mat 30 preferably overlaps and conceals the jointbetween the'front fender and running board, whilethe rear end of the matpreferably curves upwardly as'indicated at 31 and terminates adjacentthe connection of the rear fender with the running board.

Referring now to the modified form of the invention illustrated inFigure 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the particularconstruction of the running board and dust shield is substantially thesame as in the first described form of the invention. The only materialdifference between the two forms of the invention being that the mat 32,illustrated in Figure 4 of the draw ings, is detachably secured to therunning board and dust shield. This is effected in the present instanceby vulcanizing suitable metallic strips 33 to the longitudinal edges ofthe mat. These strips are formed with a series of open return-bentportions 34 and 34 adapted to receive the depending flange and inwardlyextending flange 18 of the running board and dust shield respectively.However, if desired, the strips 33 may have a continuous upturnedportion instead of the spaced tongues 34, but in any event serves as areinforcement for the outer edge of the mat and is designed to preventscuffing the rubber from the board. Moreover inasmuch as the return-bentportions of the strips 33 are bent around the flanges 15 and 18 aspointed out above, the strips serve to detachably secure the mat to theassembly.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the outerlogitudinal edge of the ruining board is depressed as indicated at 35having a wall 35. inclined downwardly and outwardly from the treadportion 36 of the running board and terminating in a laterally extendingwall 36 preferably arranged parallel to the tread portion 36 and forms ashoulder for engaging the outer longitudinal edge 37 of the mat 38. Thelatter is preferably of one piece construction and covers substantiallythe entire running board and dust shield in the same manner as the mathereinbefore described with some particularity in connection with thefirst described form of the invention. The means for securing the outeredge of the mat 38 to the running board differs from either of theforegoing described forms of the invention in that a moulding or wearplate 39 is provided for accomplishing the securing function. Thismoulding is preferably provided with a flat base portion 40 adapted toseat upon the outer longitudinal edge portions of the matand clamp thesame to the inclined wall The outer edge of the moulding engages theshoulder 36' and thetop wall 41 thereof is substantially arcuate inshape and in effect form a continuation ofthe top surface of the mat andthe outer surface of the depending apron 42. The latter is in the formof a flange extending downwardly from the outer edge of the wall 36.

For securing the molding upon the inclined wall 35', I provide thefastening elements 43 having heads 44 disposed within the moulding andshanks 45 projecting from the heads aforesaid and adapted to extcndthrough a longitudinally extending slot 46 formed in the base portion ofthe molding strip. In this connection it will be apparent that thefastening elements 43 are assembled with the strip through one endthereof and are held in proper spaced relation to each other by means ofthe inwardly extending portions 47 pressed inwardly from the top of themolding strip and frictionally engaging the heads of the fasteningelements. The shank portions of the elements-are preferably threaded andextend through aligned apertures formed in the mat 38 and inclined wall35 so as to threadedly engage the nuts 48.

Thus from the foregoing, it will be apparent that the herein describedconstruction renders possible the production of a practical andefficient running board assembly having parts that may be easily andquickly assembled or replaced when necessary. It will further be notedthat the mat is formed of a single strip of non-metallic material whichin addition to completely concealing the running board and dust shieldfunctions to conceal the joint between the fenders and running board. Inother words, it will be noted that I have provided a protective coveringfor the entire dust shield that will not scratch or mar easily.Furthermore the present invention contemplates a quick and noveldetachable connection between the non-metallic covering and runningboard assembly.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a running board assembly, the combination with a running board anddust shield having longitudinal edge portions, of a mat completelyconcealing the upper surface of said running board and dust shield andhaving the longitudinal edge portions detachably embracing the edgeportions aforesaid of said running board and dust shield.

2. In a running board assembly, the combination with a running ,boardprovided along its outer longitudinal edge with a depending flange, of adust shield provided along its upper longitudinal edge with a lateralflange, and a single strip of nonmetallic material completely concealingsaid running board and dust shield and having the longitudinal edgeportions thereof overlapping portions of said flanges and securedthereto.

- 3. In a vehicle, the combination with a body, ofa running board, adust shield having a lateral flange extending beneath and terminatingadjacent to the body, of a mat mounted upon the running board having aportion extending over the \dust shield and "wall. "6. In a runningboard between the lateral flange aforesaid and the body.

4. In arunning board assembly, the combination with a fender and arunnlng board connected thereto, of a dust shield extending upwardlyfrom the running board, and a mat adapted to completely conceal'theupper surface of said running board, dust shield and joint between thefender and running board.

5. In a running board assembly, the combination with a running boardhaving a down-.

wardly extending inclined wall ad acent one edge thereof terminating ina lateral shoulder, a mat for said running board having a portioncovering said wall and abutting said shoulder, and means for clampingthe portion aforesaid of the mat to said inclined assembly, thecombination with a running board having a downwardly and outwardlyinclined wall at one edge thereof, a mat for said running board having aportion seated upon said wall, and a moulding secured to said' w all andoperable to clamp the portion aforesaid of the mat to the running board.

7. In'a running board assembly, the combination with a running boardhaving a tread portion terminating at one edge thereof in a downwardlyand outwardly inclined wall, a'

depending flange, a mat for the tread portion having an edge portionseated upon the said wall, and means for clamping t e edge portion ofthe mat to-the inclined wallaforesaid including a moulding having abowed outer surface cooperating with the outer surfaces of saiddepending flange and mat to form in effect a continuation thereof.

9. In a vehicle the combination with a running board, of a dust shieldfor said running board having a flange extending laterally from theupper edge thereof, and a mat having a portion forming a kick plate forsaid dust shield and having another portion overlapping the flangeaforesaid and secured thereto.

extending portion forming a shoulder, a mat for the tread portion of therunning board having a portion seated upon the wall aforesaid andabutting the shoulder, and means for clamping the portion aforesaid ofthe mat to the inclined wall including a moulding having the outer edgethereof also engaging said shoulder.

11. In a running board assembl ,the combination with a running boardprovided along its outer longitudinal edge with a depending flange, of adust shield having along its-upper longitudinal edge a lateral flange,and a mat covering portions of said running board and dust shield andhaving the longitudinal edge portion thereof overlapping portions ofsaid flanges and secured thereto. I

12. In a running board assembly, the combination with a running boardand a dust shield extending upwardly therefrom, of a mat for saidrunning board having portions extending over said dust shield andsecured to the upper edge of the latter..

13. A running board assembly for vehicles comprising a running board, adust shield having a portion at the upper edge thereof concealed by apart of the vehicle, and a mat for the board having a'portion extendingupwardly over a portion of the dust shield and. having the upper edgethereof extending over the first-mentioned portion of the; dust shieldand secured thereto whereby the said upper edge of the mat is alsoconcealed by the part of the-vehicle aforesaid;

14. "A running board assembly including in combination, a running boardhaving a shoulder adjacent the outer edge thereof terminating in adepending flange, a mat for the running board having the outerlongitudinal edge thereofabutting said shoulder, and means detachablysecuring the outer edge portion of the mat to said runnin boardincluding a member secured to sai running board and also abutting saidshoulder. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN J. PUNKE.

10. In a running board assembly, the combination with a running boardhaving a tread ortion provided adjacent the outer edge t ereof with adownwardly and outwardly inclined wall having an outwardly

